Ukraine Sends Special Forces To "Deal" With Separatists; Donetsk Police Chief Steps Down

Update: The regional police chief of the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk said on Saturday he was quitting his post, bowing to demands from pro-Russian protesters. Above the police headquarters, the Ukrainian flag was no longer flying, and was replaced with a separatist flag, according to a Reuters witness. "In accordance with your demands I am stepping down," police chief Kostyantyn Pozhydayev told protesters.

So, one down?

* * *

While the primary story regarding Ukraine remains the stand off between Kiev and the Kremlin over nat Gazprom's gas deliveries and Kiev's overdue, and as of today - officially halted payments - not a weekend passes without some city in eastern Ukraine falling to what are now called "pro-Russian separatists" and this Saturday is no different. While last week it was the eastern cities of Luhansk, Donestk and Kharkiv that saw their government building taken over and occupied by the "separatists", today it was the turn of Slaviansk, where masked men armed with pistols and rifles stood guard near the police station as hundreds of locals gathered around, some building barricades with car tyres.

According to Reuters, the masked men were wearing orange and black ribbons, a symbol of the Soviet victory in World War II that has been adopted by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

Slaviansk is in the Donetsk region about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. Pro-Russian groups have also occupied public buildings in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, and are demanding autonomy from Kiev.

As is well known by now, officials in Kiev's Western-leaning interim government say Russian forces may be preparing to cross the frontier into Ukraine on the pretext of protecting the pro-Russian activists from persecution, though Moscow denies this. And since the narrative is quite clear, and since Kiev itself has been the most desperate to escalate the conflict with Russia into outright war in hopes of getting NATO backing, it is never quite clear just who is behind any provocation.

And as if to formally accelerate the fallout Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said police would deal very firmly with the group in Slaviansk. "There is a difference between protesters and terrorists," he wrote on his Facebook page.

Bloomberg added that Ukraine has sent special forces troops to deal with camouflaged gunmen occupying police station in Slovyansk in Donetsk region of east Ukraine, also citing Avakov's Facebook account. He added that the ministry response "will be very tough" with "zero tolerance for armed terrorists."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia said Kiev was ready to listen to the demands of protesters in eastern Ukraine, but if negotiations fail, the police were ready to act. "We do consider that these actions are inspired and prepared in Russia and encouraged by some of the Russia agents in Ukraine," he told BBC radio.

At least 20 armed militants wearing mismatched camouflage outfits took over the police and security services headquarters in the eastern city of Slaviansk, about 150 km (90 miles) from the border with Russia, seizing hundreds of handguns.

Police said gunmen later took over the local headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service.

Ukraine's acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsia, urged Russia to end what he called "provocative actions" by its agents in a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Government buildings in two other Russian-speaking cities, Donetsk and Luhansk, have been occupied by separatists since last weekend, in what the new pro-Europe leadership in Kiev says is part of a plan drawn up by the Kremlin to dismember Ukraine.

Of course, it is indeed true that Russia is merely waiting for the opportunity to respond to "special forces" retaliation and escalate a la Crimea to protect the ethnic Russians living there. The only question is whether Kiev will respond this time, or fold completely like it did when Russia annexed Crimea after its western "allies" did absolutely nothing to assist the new government.

Anti-Kiev demonstrators have taken control of police office in the town of Slavyansk, Eastern Ukraine. The town's mayor, however, believes police have taken the side of the protesters, and are going to back their calls for a secession referendum. Kiev has promised a heavy-handed response and sent special forces there, but they are being blocked by demonstrators in the regional centre, Donetsk.

Clips from the scene:

Slaviansk is not the only city where separatists are revolting against the Kiev regime today: Donetsk is once again in the spotlight.

And in other news, Ukraine officially announced it was suspending payments to Russia for deliveries of gas. As has been extensively reported here, a large proportion of the natural gas which EU states buy from Russia is pumped via Ukrainian territory, so if Russia makes good on a threat to cut off Ukraine for non-payment of its bills, customers further west will have supplies disrupted.

Andriy Kobolev, chief executive of Ukraine's state-run energy company Naftogaz, said the increased price Russia was demanding for its gas was unjustified and unacceptable.

"Accordingly, we have suspended payments for the period of the price negotiations," Kobolev was quoted as saying in an interview with Ukraine's Zerkalo Nedely newspaper.

So congratulations America and Europe: you are now officially on the hook to pay for Gazprom's invoices. And to think it all started as a noble mission to "preserve democracy" in a country that sent its president in exile through a violent, Western-orchestrated coup.

@ SimplePrinciple: Like so much 'news' its hard to sort out fact from ficition. Will be interesting to see what comes of it though. Given the level of admitted interference by the west in the region, its completely credible that they would do this.

I dont think so - action begets reaction - NATO and serious Ukraine military response faces stoppage for all of Europe on gas transmission

Germany wants zero disruption

so the action by Ukraine authorities to stop paying for the gas - creates sequential reaction - for russia to stop transmission or not - if not - must put Russia in postion to respond on random pretext - local cops will suprevise referendum once covered by Russian troops and gas transmission will continue - EXCEPT - for western Ukraine will be shut off once Junction points are secured and make them cave on ALL demands in return for bargain purchase of transmission lines in trade for outstanding debt owed to Russia

Banks get squat!

USA must huff and puff - Germans in street on the side of Putin on this not Merkel

NATO never would have risked destabilizing a nuclear armed nation and the NeoNazis never would have attained any tangible influence. Perception is reality, and perceived weakness is an invitation to have the will of others imposed upon you.

no hesitation, instant mind cordination to the physical target while pulling the trigger after the institanious sight alignment, free of any emotions resultive of the result. summary on my resume; am i hired?

Vassili Blokhin recommended a leather apron and leather cap. But mind you he was a true master of the trade, an artist, genius. You know a bit like the Bernank was with the printing press, he was that good. I am sure all those Blackwater hard asses would have loved the idea of an appointment with him.

"So congratulations America and Europe: you are now officially on the hook to pay for Gazprom's invoices. And to think it all started as a noble mission to "preserve democracy"... in a country that sent its president in exile through a violent coup."

The only correction I'd make is that the US tax payers are "paying"** jack.

Not when the US.gov runs a budget deficit in the $ Trillion range, with said Deficit being "financed" via gimmicks between the Fed and the ECB (Brussels) - given that other countries have pretty much given up on buying US Debt.

** They are merely on the hook for said 'obligations' made in their name, w/o their knowledge or consent.

Yes sir, but the reset will be paid for by the citizenry, not the khazar overlords. A reset of a 50% reduction in the value of the US peso will mean advanced pain and suffering by the serf donkeys of the US.

Last year it was Comet Ison (Yeah, what did happen to New Thor?), the year before it was the end of the Mayan calendar, I guess one of these days one of those weird signs will co-incide with "the end" and we can declare that superstition the successful one for the day.

Dont like to be harsh - I like hearing these weird ideas, but they don't have a good track record.

On the other hand, "No-one knows the day nor the hour" so as long as someone out there is predicting "the end", we should be safe! ...

Tuesday is only the beginning of the end. The really interesting Red Moon Rising date is Sept. 28 2015, the last of the Tetrad.

A total of 4 eclipses occurring at approximately six month intervals will occur during the Apocalypse. The total eclipse of April 15, 2014, will be followed by another on Oct. 8, 2014, and another on April 4, 2015, and yet another on Sept. 28 2015.

The Jewish Talmud (book of tradition / Interpretation) says; “When the moon is in eclipse, it is a bad omen for Israel. If its face is as red as blood, (it is a sign that) the sword is coming to the world.”

Is Israel going to be involved in a war during the blood red moons of 2014 and 2015? According to ancient Jewish tradition, a lunar eclipse is a harbinger of bad things for Israel. If that eclipse is blood red, that is a sign that war is coming. And blood red moons that happen during Biblical festivals seem to be particularly significant. There was a “tetrad” of blood red moons that fell during Passover 1967, the Feast of Tabernacles 1967, Passover 1968 and the Feast of Tabernacles 1968.

The Soviets were afraid of the strong Russian nationalism. The early leaders were not Russians but came from the other Republics. The USSR policy was to make the Russians disperse throughout the USSR. There are many enclaves of Russians throughout the former republics that don't speak the native languages.

Basically it was the same cause as most fucked up situations around the world, government policies.

That is exactly what I am saying. Same with Moldova, Georgia, etc. My fiancée is Russian that was born in Moldova. She doesn't speak a lick of the Moldovan language and neither do her parents or siblings.

I am not an expert on that part of the World, but from what I have the recent days, Crimea was given to Ukraine by Hrushev in 1950s, and it has been Russian for the last few hunderds years, the soviets have been in existence only the last century

Kruchev was Ukrainian and was the one that split gifted Crimea to the Ukrainian republic. I don't see any inconsistencies but let me know. I am teachable. I have only started my deeper understanding of Russian relatively recently.

I'm sorry, to pee on your bonfire, but all your guesses and assumptions are very far from the real truth.First, those Russian people who live in the Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kharkov and the rest of South-Eastern Ukraine, are indigenous inhabitants of these lands. Bolsheviks, annexed all this land from Russia to Ukraine, together with the indigenous Russian population. The Bolsheviks did it violently, through tears, sorrow and blood of the Russian people. All Russian, who were against this accession for Ukraine, was physically destroyed or sent to the Gulag camps.

Moreover, the Ukrainian famine, which you call as "Stalin's struggle against the Ukrainians," in fact, occurred on these former Russian lands. Most of Russian people was dead of this hunger, but not Ukrainians. But Western propaganda always lies about it, with the aim to put the Ukrainians as a "victim of genocide by the Russian."

Secondly, trying to talk about Russia and Russians, you should understand one very important detail: "Russian" - is not a nationality. "Russian" - a state of soul and mind. Great Russian Empress Catherine II, was German. But she was Russian in her soul. The great Russian poet Pushkin - was Ethiopia. But he was a Russian soul. Great Russian Admiral Kolchak was a Turk. But he was a Russian soul. All Russian history is filled with outstanding personalities from the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France and so on. All of these great people have contributed immensely to the development of Russia . They were citizens of Russia and considered it an honor to be called "Russian". They were Russian soul and mind.

I do appreciate your many clarifying narratives about the Russian nation, people and the true history... what you just wrote above could be too hard for those raised during the great globalization push, they may find it pretty difficult to grasp the understanding of nation building, nationalism, national identity, and other similar concepts...

There are simply too many disinformation and propaganda news about the Bolshevik USSR, equalizing them as the RUSSIAN people by the mainstream media. They are trying very hard to put the stigma upon the Russian people's shoulders all the negative things done by the former USSR.

Thank you for the efforts to fill in the voids of the true history and to put things on the right perspectives... dispersing the forged mirage by the MSM about the Russian people and nation!!

ps: i understand no single word of the song in the video of your posted youtube link yet i can see it's a wonderful yet a sadful, melancholic song, possibly lamenting the torture of life and the state of being severed from the motherland (losing out the territories)!

Language, culture and ways of life are the key parts of one's identity!!

Look at the bright side, ad: USSA can demand its $7.2 million back, inflation adjusted of course.

BTW, this is some "serious journalism" by Reuters: 'the masked men were wearing orange and black ribbons, a symbol of the Soviet victory in World War II that has been adopted by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.'

1. The ribbon has a name - it's called the ribbon of St. George.

2. It's not just "a symbol of Soviet victory in WWII", but it has existed since the late XVIII century.

3. It's been "adopted by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine" for a good reason - St. George's ribbon is a Russian symbol, and them being Russians it would be inappropriate if they adopted SS Galizien symbols.

"Looks like Russia has put Ukraine in a position where they refuse/cannot afford to to pay their gas bills."

They missed their payment and the price reverted to the unsubsidized price agreed to in contract in 2009. Russia didn't put them into any position. The Ukrainians thought the could stuff it up Putin's ass.

Thinking about it a bit further, it reminds me a bit of the situation in Iraq after the first gulf war. There was a civil war because the opposition to Saddam thought that the U.S. had their back. The Ukraine thought the same thing and were overly emboldened and made a series of very bad decisions.

Yep. Here is a brief outline. George Bush (elder) radio address to the Iraqi people:

"There is another way for the bloodshed to stop: and that is, for the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own hands and force Saddam Hussein, the dictator, to step aside and then comply with the United Nations' resolutions and rejoin the family of peace-loving nations."

Ukr has not paid their bills for 10 years. These arrangements, Russia supports Ukr, Germany member EU, China supports Ukr,....these are all necessary expenses and arrangements at that time. These show 'solidarity' and 'leadership'.

Arrangements are changing now.

Even if Germany were to exit EU, then Germany would still be in NATO and have US bases.

Since it is getting 'freed up' and in flux, what will happen this weekend, or this month...the weather is variable, and next winter approaches in 6 months.

I have a strong belief this is all Kabuki. The Ukr government is only in search for a Sugar Daddy to bail them out. If the West comes up with a pain free solution then Ukr will take it. If Russia takes over and all debts are null and void, then Ukr will do that. It is all an attempt to get some country, or organization, to do something QUICK. Before the next winter arrives.

It is all show and false. I guess the taking of the weapons is the only serious event, but the Ukr is just waiting for someone to take them over.

If the takeover (by West or East) does not othewise occur, the Ukr population will EXODUS south for the next winter.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces To "Deal" With Separatists Who Take Over Another East Ukraine City

The domino theory existed from the 1950s to the 1980s. It was promoted at times by the us government and speculated that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism , then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect.

The domino theory was used by successive United States administrations during the coldwar to justify the need for American intervention around the world.

imagine the heated panic in chatham house in brookings in all of those jewish run masonic think tanks.

ukraine death by a thousand separatist cuts.

seal team 6 are all dead others on the run others askin why are the cia killin us.

the dirty work here will be done by private security firms uk,usa,israel

I don't think there is a domino in the old cold war sense of the term. US power is waning and all the artificially imposed regional balances imposed by the US are collapsing. That's all we are seeing now, the unwinding of the US power play.

In other news, whilst the khazar war-mongering, oven-ready cocksuckers pollute Amerika with their Monsatan products. Who's the `free' country again?

RUSSIA WILL NOT IMPORT GMO PRODUCTS. “If the Americans like to eat GMO products, let them eat it then. We don’t need to do that; we have enough space and opportunities to produce organic food,” said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

To H with Reuters. Listen to the silent scream, listen to the people...

Voices of Ukraine: 'Kiev, people are not cattle!'

-- Andre Vltchek, a novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist who has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries, writes on RT:

“I doubt where the official numbers come from, those that say that Ukraine is evenly divided between those who support the West, and those who feel their identity is closely linked with Russia.

“Maybe this might be the case in western Ukraine, in Lvov, or even in the capital, Kiev. But western Ukraine has only a few key cities. The majority of people in this country of around 44 million are concentrated in the south, east and southeast, around the enormous industrial and mining centers of Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Krivoi Rog.

“There is Odessa in the south, and Kharkov, ‘the second capital,’ in the east. And people in all those parts of the country mainly speak Russian. And they see, what has recently happened in Kiev as an unceremonious coup, orchestrated and supported by the West…”

From the article…

“Look what is happening in Kiev,” exclaims Alexandra Tsyganskaya, the owner of the restaurant (‘Camelot Bar’).“The US and the West were planning this; preparing this, for months, perhaps years! Now people in Ukraine are so scared, most of them are only whispering. They are petrified. There is such tension everywhere, that all it would take is to light a match and everything will explode.”

We have all known for years that the USG rampages around the world imposing its will and whenever necessary its loyal, obedient servant: the British gov, follows on behind and ratchets up the PR campaign.

But what we are seeing here for probably the first time is the unelected EU Commission under President Barroso involve itself directly in non-EU geo-politics, regime change and funding revolutions to further its own aims of becoming a new empire.

I can guarantee 100% that if the Brit PM Cameron ever calls a referendum on UK EU membership, matters such as this (and many others where the EU has grossly overstepped its authority) will never get discussed.

From the Reuters article: "...a day after President Vladimir Putin wrote to the European Union warning that its supplies could be disrupted if Ukraine failed to cover its bills, European officials said they had little to fear and would help Ukraine pay."

OK. So the bankrupt EU, run by the totally unelected EU Commission Maoist/Marxist/Fascist "President Barroso", is going to help Ukraine pay its gas debts to Russia. The EU only has money that it collects from EU member states. No other source of income.

Further, since the EU is a substantial net importer itself of gas from Russia, any gas it supplies to Ukraine to avoid the "pre-payment" requirement that Putin tabled for future supplies of gas to Ukraine, will obviously be gas that the EU is buying from Russia and re-selling to Ukraine. Since Ukraine is also bankrupt, one wonders if the price the EU charges it for re-sold gas will be the same price the EU pays Russia for it OR whether it will sell-on to Ukraine at a discount to help it further, thereby subsidising Ukraine thru the back door. It should be noted that Ukraine is NOT an EU member state.

All this without a single word of approval from EU citizens. There is zero democratic accountability anywhere in the EU.